Non-partisan
Not for profit
Social Enterprise
Stop Lying In Politics Ltd. is a UK, non-partisan, not for profit organisation which is dedicated to protecting the public from lying in politics. We exist to set a precedent against lying in politics in the English common law, making it illegal for any politician to lie to the public, influencing English common law jurisdictions around the world.
Freedom of political speech is a vital pillar of a democratic society that must always be protected but it does not extend to dishonest statements. Outright lying about public spending, the reasons for going to war and other matters of national interest should not be permitted under the law.
We investigate elected representatives on a cross-party basis. Our prosecution targets are chosen based upon the strength of evidence against them and the public trust invested in their public offices.
Equality under the law
Equality under the law is a vital cornerstone of any healthy system of justice. It means that no matter who you are, you are held to account under the same laws as other people with the same legal responsibilities as you.
The Speechley case, the Wallis case and R V Cosford involved a public office holding elected councillor, police officer, and a prison officer. All three were given prison sentences based upon the damage they had caused to public trust by lying about matters of public importance, in abuse of their duties.
If other public office holders can go to prison for lying then so can a Member of Parliament, a Minister or a Prime Minister. Because all are equal under the law. How famous, powerful or wealthy they are is legally irrelevant.
Blog
Protecting freedom of speech
Meaning that a prosecution against lying in politics would not infringe upon the vital human right of freedom of expression.
Politicians need to be able to state their aspirations, predictions, and promises in order to do their jobs. But, these actions are very different from outright lying, which are knowingly false statements of fact intended to deceive.
Enabling Public trust in democratic systems
‘Democracy can only survive when ordinary men and women have faith in the integrity of those whose responsibility is the preservation of integrity of Parliament in all its workings’
-R v Jackson (1988)
Public trust is abused when a jury decides that elected representatives have lied to the public in abuse of their duties. Examples may include serious and not trivial, repeated dishonest statements about:
- Spending of the public purse
- Public health issues such as COVID-19
- The reasons for starting a war
- Executive decision making
- Matters of great public interest
Politicians keep lying to us about really important things and we haven't worked out how to protect the public from them yet. The public's trust in our democratic systems cannot be maintained until we have established that such actions are illegal.
- Speaking
Marcus J Ball, the founder of Stop Lying In Politics, is available to speak about the campaign within the media, at schools, universities, companies, and at events. He can speak on the following topics:
- The story of the crowdfunded private prosecution case against Boris Johnson
- Conduct, honesty & leadership in public life
- Leadership, motivation, and communications within social entrepreneurship
- Private prosecutions and crowdfunding
- Politicians and equality under criminal law
- How to respond to a media crisis after becoming a target of the tabloid press
- Holding to account the judiciary: The JCIO and allegations of judicial bias
Contact Marcus using the form on this website.
Media
The media and well known individuals comment on our work.
Lying In Politics Prosecution 2019 Media Selection
A selection of media clips covering the 2019 prosecution case against lying in politics. Including footage from BBC News, Channel 4, Al Jazeera, Have I Got News For You, The Last Leg, and more.
Lewis Power QC, criminal barrister Church Court Chambers (ITV News)
“Democracy demands responsible and honest leadership from those in public office.” “The conduct of the proposed defendant Boris Johnson was both irresponsible and dishonest. It was, we say, criminal.”
Keir Starmer MP, Ex Director of Public Prosecutions (On Twitter)
“It’s a process that’s been around for hundreds of years. It’s not a trial of personalities. It’s a question of whether the law has been broken.”
Gina Miller, judicial review public law champion (Speaking on ITV)
"It is about holding our politicians to account in public office and their responsibility when it comes to the messages and information they disseminate to the public"
Kathy Sheridan, journalist (Writing in Irish Times)
"Big political lies such as those in Brexit blight democracy by killing voters’ trust’ 'Go on, Marcus J Ball, have a go."
Lord Alan Sugar (On Twitter)
"@BorisJohnson should be prosecuted with a criminal offence for misleading the public over the £350m per week lie. @piersmorgan"
Robert Peston ITV journalist and author (on Twitter)
"I met @MarcusJBall a few weeks ago and was impressed by how as a young person he has devoted his life to fighting what he sees as dishonesty in politics. His case was based on what is appropriate conduct in public office. Whatever side of Brexit debate you are on, important to see Ball’s tenacity as extraordinary."
Ed Davey MP (Politics Home)
"Given Boris Johnson wants to be the next Prime Minister of this country, it's only right that he is held accountable for the lies he told in 2016."
Paul Brennan, journalist (Speaking on Al Jazeera)
“Concerns about the character and truthfulness of politicians are not new. George Orwell described politics as a mass of lies, evasion, folly. But seeing a politician held criminally responsible misleading campaign slogans would indeed be a startling precedent”.
Ian Hislop, Editor of Private Eye Magazine (speaking on Have I Got News For You)
“At the moment we’re just at the preliminary stage about whether when he was a public official he was telling lies and therefore abusing his office. It’s very similar to putting the Pope on trial and saying are you a Catholic? ...I would like him to have a fair trial, with a desirable result with him being imprisoned forever.”
Peter Stefanovic, journalist and lawyer, campaigning against political deceit (On Twitter)
“After two years of case research we intend to bring a private criminal prosecution for misconduct in public office against Boris Johnson MP.” COURAGE HAS A NEW NAME! DONATE TO @MarcusJBall case so that Boris Johnson is held fully to account!"
Cost of EU Membership per year according to Boris Johnson
Cost of EU membership per year according to Boris Johnson (in billions) and in chronological order. Thank you for the journalism of Laura Kuenssberg, Tom Bradby, Simon Harris, Rylan Clark-Neal and Holly Willoughby who worked to draw out these statements from this elected representative.
